LaMoille-Ohio downs Kirkland-Hiawatha

LAMOILLE — After taking the opening tip-off, the LaMoille/Ohio Lady Lions never looked back in posting a resounding 68-24 victory over Kirkland-Hiawatha Thursday in LaMoille.

The relentless LaMoille/Ohio Lady Lions never trailed and had runs of 17-0 to start the game and 14-0 to start the second half.

The Lady Lions, led by senior guard Sheila Browning and senior forward Vanessa Martinez, quickly jumped all over Little 10 conference rival the Hawks, forcing turnovers and taking their 17-0 run late into the first quarter when freshman guard Michelle Percudani finally got the Hawks on the board.

The inexperience of Kirkland-Hiawatha seemed an insurmountable task to overcome, as they didn’t start a senior and only have one listed on their roster.

Martinez led the way for the Lady Lions with 23 points and 9 rebounds, while Browning added 21 points, 8 rebounds and had a game high 8 steals.

“We’ve had way too many turnovers and tonight we didn’t,” said LaMoille/Ohio coach Richard Gross, “The girls have speed and tonight we used it. We looked like we should have; like we’ve been playing.”

A majority of L/O’s points came as the result of turnovers, many of these turnovers led to easy, fast break points on layups.

“They attacked the basket, and that’s what we’ve been talking about. The whole team did an amazing job,” said Gross. “I’m always proud of them, they play so hard, they don’t quit and tonight they played the way they should have.”

The second half was the same story as junior guard Erin Bennett stole the opening possession from the Hawks and took it coast-to-coast before she was fouled attempting a layup. She would make 1 of 2 free throws to start the second half scoring.

The Lady Lions continued to dominate their opponent on both ends of the floor as they extended their lead to 37 on a 14-0 run to open the half before another K/H freshman guard, Jessica Znamenski, got the Hawks’ first second half points with a 3-pointer from the top of the key making the score 51-17.

Buckets in the second half 14-0 run came from Bennett, Martinez, Browning and senior center Elizabeth Geuther.

Browning rounded out the third quarter scoring as she sunk a 15-foot jumper at the buzzer to make it 62-21 heading into the fourth quarter.

“I got to get other girls in tonight, it was good for their experience and it will be good for the upcoming tournament we have at St. Bede, anytime you can get younger girls in the game and get them some playing time, it will always be good for your team,” said Gross.